Understanding the Endtime Lesson 13

Purchase The Second Coming by Irvin Baxter

The Second Coming

Part 1

TODAY WE’RE TALKING ABOUT THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST TO THIS EARTH.

IN OUR PREVIOUS LESSON OF UNDERSTANDING THE ENDTIME WE TALKED ABOUT THE SEVEN TRUMPETS.

THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS WILL OCCUR AT THE SOUNDING OF THE SEVENTH TRUMPET, WHICH IS THE LAST TRUMPET, OF COURSE.

TODAY, WE’RE GOING TO LEARN THE DETAILS OF WHAT HAPPENS AT THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST.

THE SECOND COMING IS FORETOLD IN MANY PLACES IN SCRIPTURE.

THE PASSAGE I WANT TO READ TO YOU RIGHT NOW, THOUGH, WAS GIVEN JUST AT THE TIME OF HIS DEPARTURE FROM THE EARTH.

IT’S FOUND IN ACTS CHAPTER 1.

JESUS HAD BEEN CRUCIFIED.

HE SPENT THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS IN THE GRAVE THEN HE ROSE AGAIN.

FOR THE NEXT 40 DAYS HE SHOWED HIMSELF ALIVE TO MANY PEOPLE.

HE WOULD APPEAR TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE AT DIFFERENT TIMES.

AT ONE TIME HE APPEARED TO A CROWD OF 500 PEOPLE.

HE GAVE US INFALLIBLE PROOF THAT HE, IN FACT, HAD RISEN FROM THE DEAD.

NOW AFTER THE 40 DAYS HE LED HIS DISCIPLES OUT TO THE MOUNT OF OLIVES.

AS HE GATHERED THEM TOGETHER HE GAVE THEM FINAL INSTRUCTIONS.

HE SAID, “GO BACK TO JERUSALEM AND STAY THERE UNTIL YOU’RE ENDUED WITH POWER FROM ON HIGH.”

NOW, HE TOLD THEM THIS BECAUSE MANY OF THEM LIVED IN GALILEE AND THEY COULD HAVE JUST GONE HOME.

GALILEE WAS ABOUT 100 MILES NORTH OF JERUSALEM.

SO, HE SAID, “GO BACK TO JERUSALEM, STAY THERE UNTIL YOU ARE ENDUED WITH POWER FROM ON HIGH.

YOU WILL BE BAPTIZED WITH THE HOLY GHOST IN A FEW DAYS.”

AFTER HE GAVE THEM THESE INSTRUCTIONS HE SAID, “THE REASON YOU NEED THE HOLY GHOST SO MUCH IS BECAUSE IT’S GOING TO GIVE YOU THE POWER YOU NEED TO FULFILL MY COMMISSION TO YOU.”

HE SAID, “AFTER THE HOLY GHOST HAS COME UPON YOU, YOU SHALL BE WITNESSES UNTO ME IN JERUSALEM, JUDEA, SAMARIA AND THEN UNTO THE UTTERMOST PARTS OF THE WORLD.”

AFTER HE GAVE THEM THESE FINAL INSTRUCTIONS, THE BIBLE SAYS HE LIFTED HIS HANDS AND HE BLESSED THEM.

AND THEN, AFTER THE BLESSING, SUDDENLY HIS FEET LEAVE THE GROUND.

CAN YOU IMAGINE HOW STARTLING THIS WAS?

HE’S TALKING TO THEM AND THEY’VE BEEN TALKING TO HIM.

NOW, HIS FEET LEAVE THE GROUND AND HE STARTS UP.

THEY’RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT’S GOING ON.

EVERY EYE IS RIVETED ON JESUS AS HE ASCENDS.

FINALLY HE REACHES THE LEVEL OF CLOUD COVER AND THE BIBLE SAYS THAT, “A CLOUD RECEIVED HIM OUT OF THEIR SIGHT.”

THEY’RE LOOKING, STILL HOPING TO CATCH ONE MORE GLIMPSE.

AND THEY WONDER, PERHAPS WILL HE COME BACK?

WHILE THEY’RE STANDING THERE, ALL OF THEM, GAZING UP INTO THE SKY, THE BIBLE SAYS THAT TWO MEN IN WHITE APPAREL STOOD BY THEM.

THIS IS ACTS 1:9-11.

THESE TWO SPECIAL MESSENGERS FROM GOD SAID, “YOU MEN OF GALILEE, WHY STAND YE GAZING UP INTO HEAVEN?

THIS SAME JESUS…”

NOW, HERE’S THE PROMISE, LISTEN TO IT CAREFULLY.

“THIS SAME JESUS, WHICH IS TAKEN UP FROM YOU INTO HEAVEN SHALL SO COME IN LIKE MANNER AS YE HAVE SEEN HIM GO INTO HEAVEN.”

IT’S THE PROMISE THAT JESUS IS COMING BACK TO EARTH.

THESE DISCIPLES HAD NO CLUE THAT THE PROMISE WOULD LAST FOR 2000 YEARS AND HASN’T HAPPENED YET AND IT’S BEEN ALMOST 2000 YEARS FROM THAT TIME RIGHT NOW.

BUT THAT DOESN’T MEAN IT’S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

THIS IS A FIRM PROMISE AND IT’S THE PROMISE OF THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST.

ONE THING WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND AS WE STUDY THE SECOND COMING, BECAUSE THIS IS GOING TO AFFECT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US, EVERY SINGLE HUMAN BEING UPON THE EARTH.

THE SECOND COMING IS NOT GOING TO BE LIKE THE FIRST COMING.

JESUS FELT IT WAS SO IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND THAT BECAUSE HE KNEW THAT IN THE TIMES RIGHT BEFORE HIS SECOND COMING THERE WOULD BE PEOPLE SHOWING UP CLAIMING TO BE THE MESSIAH, CLAIMING TO BE EVEN THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST.

WE’VE ALREADY WITNESSED THAT.

EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE YOU WILL HEAR IN THE NEWS, OH, THERE’S A MESSIAH, WHETHER IT’S LORD MAITREYA IN LONDON, OR WHETHER IT’S A MESSIAH SHOWING UP IN THE MIDDLE EAST SOMEWHERE.

THERE’S ALL KINDS OF REPORTS.

AND JESUS KNEW THAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.

SO, IN MATTHEW 24, WHICH IS THE BIBLE’S MOST FAMOUS PROPHECY CHAPTER, JESUS GAVE US INSTRUCTIONS ABOUT WHAT THE SECOND COMING WOULD BE LIKE.

IT’S NOT GOING TO BE A BABY BEING BORN IN A STABLE, LYING IN A MANGER.

IT’S NOT GOING TO BE JESUS SLIPPING THROUGH THE BACK DOOR OF THE WORLD AND MYSTERIOUSLY SHOWING UP SOMEWHERE.

FOR THERE SHALL ARISE FALSE CHRISTS, AND FALSE PROPHETS, AND SHALL SHEW GREAT SIGNS AND WONDERS; INSOMUCH THAT, IF IT WERE POSSIBLE,” I’M GLAD THAT PHRASE IS THERE, “IF IT WERE POSSIBLE, THEY SHALL DECEIVE THE VERY ELECT.”

BEHOLD, I HAVE TOLD YOU BEFORE.

WHEREFORE IF THEY SHALL SAY UNTO YOU, BEHOLD HE IS IN THE DESERT; GO NOT FORTH:” IGNORE IT, DON’T PAY ANY ATTENTION TO IT, “BEHOLD, HE IS IN THE SECRET CHAMBERS; BELIEVE IT NOT.”

WHY?

VERSE 27, “FOR AS THE LIGHTNING COMETH OUT OF THE EAST, AND SHINETH EVEN UNTO THE WEST; SO SHALL ALSO THE COMING OF THE SON OF MAN BE.”

SO, JESUS IS TELLING THEM, DON’T EVER PAY ATTENTION TO THE PEOPLE THAT SAY, “MESSIAH IS HERE.

MESSIAH IS THERE.”

YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE BELIEVE THE MUSLIM MESSIAH IS COMING CALLED THE 12TH IMAM, OR THE MAHDI.

IF THAT WOULD HAPPEN, DON’T PAY ANY ATTENTION TO IT BECAUSE WHEN I COME BACK IT’S GOING TO BE AS THE LIGHTNING FLASHES FROM THE EAST TO THE WEST.

I AM COMING IN THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN.

I AM COMING IN A DRAMATIC FASHION.

I’M NOT GOING TO SHOW UP SOMEWHERE IN THE WORLD, I WILL SHOW UP IN THE SKIES OF HEAVEN AND EVERY EYE SHALL BEHOLD ME.

NOW THEN, LET’S TALK ABOUT MORE OF THE DETAILS OF WHAT EXACTLY WILL HAPPEN AT THE SECOND COMING, BECAUSE YOU AND I WILL MOST LIKELY LIVE TO SEE THIS IN OUR OWN LIFETIMES.

CONTINUING ON IN MATTHEW 24, VERSE 29, JESUS SAID, “IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE TRIBULATION OF THOSE DAYS SHALL THE SUN BE DARKENED AND THE MOON SHALL NOT GIVE HER LIGHT.

AND THE STARS WILL FALL FROM HEAVEN AND THE POWERS OF THE HEAVENS SHALL BE SHAKEN.

AND THEN SHALL APPEAR THE SIGN OF THE SON OF MAN IN HEAVEN.

AND THEN SHALL ALL THE TRIBES,” OR NATIONS, “OF THE EARTH MOURN, AND THEY SHALL SEE THE SON OF MAN COMING,” THEY SHALL SEE HIM “COMING IN THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN WITH POWER AND GREAT GLORY.

AND HE SHALL SEND HIS ANGELS WITH A GREAT SOUND OF A TRUMPET AND THEY SHALL GATHER TOGETHER HIS ELECT FROM THE FOUR WINDS, FROM ONE END OF HEAVEN TO THE OTHER.”

SO, WE SEE THAT WHEN JESUS COMES EVERY EYE SHALL BEHOLD HIM AND HE WILL SEND HIS ANGELS TO GATHER HIS ELECT.

SCRIPTURE TELLS US MORE ABOUT HOW ALL THIS IS GOING TO OCCUR.

IN MATTHEW 24, VERSE 40, IT SAYS THAT WHEN THE RAPTURE HAPPENS — THE SECOND COMING HAPPENS, “THEN SHALL TWO BE IN THE FIELD; ONE SHALL BE TAKEN, THE OTHER LEFT.”

IMAGINE TWO MEN OUT WORKING IN THE FIELD.

THEY’RE EITHER DRIVING TRACTORS, OR MAYBE DOING SOMETHING WITH THE GROUND.

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN ONE OF THEM WILL LEAVE THE GROUND AND HEAD INTO THE SKY.

MAYBE HE’S WITNESSED TO HIS FRIEND JOE HERE AND TOLD HIM, “YOU KNOW, THE LORD’S COMING BACK, YOU NEED TO GET READY.”

BUT JOE DIDN’T WANT TO HEAR IT.

HE DIDN’T PAY ANY ATTENTION, HE DIDN’T BELIEVE IT.

NOW, ALL OF A SUDDEN HIS FRIEND LEAVES, AND AS HE WATCHES HIM GO UP HE SCREAMS OUT TO HIM, “WAIT, WAIT, HEY, WAIT!”

BUT IT’S TOO LATE,

AND HE WATCHES HIM GO INTO THE SKY.

THE BIBLE SAYS ALSO THAT TWO WOMEN SHALL BE GRINDING AT THE MILL.

ONE OF THE THINGS THEY NORMALLY DID IN BIBLE DAYS, WOMEN WOULD GRIND WHEAT INTO FLOUR OR CORN INTO CORNMEAL, WHATEVER THEY WERE DOING.

YOU SAW IT ALL THE TIME.

SO, JESUS WAS USING THIS AS AN EXAMPLE.

YOU’LL SEE TWO WOMEN WORKING TOGETHER.

IN TODAY’S TERMINOLOGY MAYBE THEY’RE IN THE FLOWER GARDEN AND THEY’RE WORKING TOGETHER WEEDING THE FLOWERS.

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN ONE WOMAN IS GOING TO BE TALKING TO ANOTHER AND SHE’S GETTING NO RESPONSE.

SHE LOOKS UP AND SEES A PILE OF CLOTHES LYING THERE.

NOW, I DON’T KNOW FOR POSITIVE THE CLOTHES WILL BE THERE, BUT WE DO KNOW JESUS LEFT HIS CLOTHES WHEN HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD.

HE LEFT THEM IN THE TOMB.

SO, PERHAPS THE CLOTHES WILL BE LYING IN A PILE AND SHE’LL LOOK UP AND SEE HER FRIEND AS SHE’S HEADING THROUGH THE SKY.

AND SHE REALIZES THE RAPTURE, SHE TOLD ME ABOUT THIS.

SO, TWO WOMEN SHALL BE GRINDING AT THE MILL, ONE TAKEN, THE OTHER LEFT.

AND YOU CAN REPEAT THAT SCENARIO WITH ALL THE POSSIBLE THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON IN THE WORLD AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME.

IN LUKE 17 IT SAYS THAT, “TWO WILL BE IN A BED, ONE TAKEN, THE OTHER LEFT.”

MAYBE A HUSBAND AND A WIFE.

PERHAPS THE HUSBAND DOESN’T SERVE GOD, THE WIFE DOES, 3:00 IN THE MORNING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE HUSBAND WAKES UP, SOMETHING BOTHERS HIM.

IT’S LIKE THE BED HAD MOVED BESIDE HIM.

AND SO HE REACHES OVER.

SHE’S NOT THERE AND HE LOOKS UP JUST TO SEE HER FEET AS THEY DISAPPEAR THROUGH THE CEILING.

IMMEDIATELY HE KNOWS WHAT IT IS BECAUSE SHE’S BEEN TALKING TO HIM FOR A LONG TIME.

SHE’S BEEN PRAYING FOR HIM FOR A LONG TIME.

HE RUNS OUT AND HE SEES HER CLEAR THE ROOF LINE AND HEAD THROUGH THE SKY.

PROBABLY THE SKY WILL BE ILLUMINATED BY THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST.

AND HE MAY CRY OUT, “STAY, WAIT, HELP ME!”

TOO LATE.

THAT’S WHAT IT’S GOING TO BE LIKE.

IT’S GOING TO BE MARVELOUS IF YOU’RE THE ONE TAKEN.

IT’S GOING TO BE TERRIBLE IF YOU’RE ONE THAT IS LEFT BEHIND.

LET’S TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE RAPTURE’S REALLY GOING TO BE LIKE BECAUSE THIS IS AN EVENT THAT’S GETTING READY TO HAPPEN SOON.

APOSTLE PAUL TEACHES ABOUT THE RAPTURE IN I THESSALONIANS CHAPTER 4, VERSE NUMBER 13, “BUT I WOULD NOT HAVE YOU TO BE IGNORANT, BRETHREN, CONCERNING THEM WHICH ARE ASLEEP, THAT YE SORROW NOT, EVEN AS OTHERS WHICH HAVE NO HOPE.”

HE’S SPEAKING ABOUT THEIR DEAD.

IT’S COMMON IN THE BIBLE TO REFER TO PEOPLE WHO ARE SAVED AND HAVE DIED AS BEING ASLEEP BECAUSE THE BELIEF WAS SO STRONG THAT DEATH WAS TEMPORARY, THAT THEY WOULD RISE AGAIN.

SO, “CONCERNING THOSE WHICH ARE ASLEEP, THAT YOU SORROW NOT, EVEN AS OTHERS WHICH HAVE NO HOPE.

FOR IF WE BELIEVE THAT JESUS DIED AND ROSE AGAIN, EVEN SO THEM ALSO WHICH SLEEP IN JESUS,” OR ARE DEAD IN JESUS, “WILL GOD BRING WITH HIM.” FROM THE GRAVE.

NOW, IF WE BELIEVE JESUS DIED AND ROSE AGAIN, THEN THAT’S OUR EVIDENCE THAT ALL OF US WHO DIE IN JESUS AND HAVE THE SPIRIT OF JESUS IN US, THAT WE WILL BE BROUGHT FORTH FROM THE GRAVE JUST LIKE HE WAS.

SO, APOSTLE PAUL IS TRYING TO TEACH US ABOUT THE RAPTURE.

HE GOES ON TO SAY IN VERSE 15, “FOR THIS WE SAY UNTO YOU, BY THE WORD OF THE LORD, THAT WE WHICH ARE ALIVE AND REMAIN UNTO THE COMING OF THE LORD SHALL NOT PRECEDE THEM WHICH ARE ASLEEP.

HERE’S THE WAY IT’S GOING TO HAPPEN, “FOR THE LORD HIMSELF SHALL DESCEND FROM HEAVEN WITH A SHOUT, WITH THE VOICE OF THE ARCHANGEL, AND WITH THE TRUMP OF GOD.”

CAN YOU IMAGINE HOW DRAMATIC THIS IS GOING TO BE?

THE LORD HIMSELF, HERE HE COMES WITH A SHOUT OF TRIUMPH, THE VOICE OF THE ARCHANGEL AND THE TRUMP OF GOD.

AND THEN IT GOES ON TO TELL US, “AND THE DEAD IN CHRIST SHALL RISE FIRST,” FROM THE GRAVE, “THEN WE WHICH ARE STILL ALIVE WILL BE CHANGED FROM MORTAL TO IMMORTAL AND WE WILL BE CAUGHT UP TOGETHER WITH THEM IN THE CLOUDS, TO MEET THE LORD IN THE AIR.”

SO, JUST LIKE JESUS WAS CAUGHT UP, WE WILL BE CAUGHT UP, AND SO WILL WE EVER BE WITH THE LORD.

SO CHRISTIANS THAT ARE ALIVE ON THE EARTH AT THE TIME OF THE SECOND COMING, ONCE THE DEAD IN CHRIST RISE, WHEN THEY REACH GROUND LEVEL, WE WILL ALL GO UP TOGETHER TO MEET THE LORD IN THE AIR.

NOW, THERE’S ANOTHER INSTRUCTION BY APOSTLE PAUL CONCERNING THIS AND HE TEACHES US SOME OTHER THINGS THAT WILL HAPPEN.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND IT BECAUSE WE’RE TALKING TODAY ABOUT WHAT THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST IS REALLY GOING TO BE LIKE.

IT’S 1 CORINTHIANS 15:51-54.

PAUL SAYS, “BEHOLD, I SHEW YOU A MYSTERY;” A SECRET, “WE SHALL NOT ALL SLEEP.”

WE WILL NOT ALL DIE.

THERE WILL BE PEOPLE ALIVE ON THIS EARTH SERVING JESUS CHRIST AT THE TIME OF HIS SECOND COMING.

WE WILL NOT ALL DIE, “BUT WE SHALL ALL BE CHANGED IN A MOMENT, IN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE, AT THE LAST TRUMP.”

REMEMBER US TALKING ABOUT THE SEVENTH TRUMP, WELL THAT’S WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT HERE.

“IN A MOMENT, IN A TWINKLING OF AN EYE AT THE LAST TRUMP.” A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE TAUGHT THAT WE’RE GOING TO JUST DISAPPEAR AT THE LAST TRUMP, BUT THAT’S NOT WHAT THE SCRIPTURE SAYS.

IT SAYS THAT WE WILL BE CHANGED IN A MOMENT, IN A TWINKLING OF AN EYE.

AND IT GOES ON TO TELL US, “AND THE TRUMPET SHALL SOUND, THE DEAD SHALL BE RAISED INCORRUPTIBLE,” THAT MEANS THEY NOW HAVE THEIR IMMORTAL BODIES, “AND WE THAT ARE ALIVE AND REMAIN WILL BE CHANGED.”

AND HE GOES ON TO SAY, “FOR THIS CORRUPTIBLE SHALL PUT ON INCORRUPTION, AND THIS MORTAL SHALL HAVE PUT ON IMMORTALITY.”

TO BE MORTAL MEANS TO BE ABLE TO DIE.

THE LATIN WORD “MORTO” MEANS TO DIE.

THAT’S THE REASON THAT WHEN YOU DIE THEY TAKE YOU TO A MORTUARY.

SO, THIS MORTAL BODY, WHICH CAN DIE, WILL PUT ON IMMORTALITY, A NEW BODY THAT CANNOT DIE, AND “THEN SHALL BE BROUGHT TO PASS THE SAYING THAT IS WRITTEN, DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY.”

SO, LET’S MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND HOW THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

SO, THE LAST TRUMPET SOUNDS AND OUR BODIES, IF WE’RE STILL ALIVE ON THE EARTH, WILL BE CHANGED IN A MOMENT FROM MORTAL TO IMMORTAL.

BUT THEN WE’RE GOING TO BE CAUGHT UP, OUR FEET WILL LEAVE THE GROUND JUST LIKE JESUS’ FEET LEFT THE GROUND.

THE DEAD IN CHRIST HAVE NOW RISEN.

WE’RE GOING UP TOGETHER TO MEET THE LORD IN THE AIR.

AND THE BIBLE SAYS, “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY.”

HE GOES ON TO SAY, “O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?

O GRAVE, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY.”

NOW, IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION THERE ARE MANY ACCOUNTS OF THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST.

THE BOOK OF REVELATION IS REALLY NOT THE BOOK OF REVELATION; IT’S REALLY THE REVEALING OF JESUS CHRIST.

THE FIRST VERSE OF REVELATION CHAPTER 1 SAYS, “THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, WHICH GOD GAVE UNTO HIM, TO SHEW UNTO HIS SERVANTS THINGS WHICH MUST SHORTLY COME TO PASS.”

THE WORD THAT WAS TRANSLATED “REVELATION” IS THE WORD “APOCALYPSE,” AND IT MEANS TO REVEAL.

SO, THIS IS REALLY THE REVEALING OF JESUS CHRIST TO THE WORLD.

THE ENTIRE BOOK OF REVELATION, 22 CHAPTERS, IS DEVOTED TO DRAMATIZING AND TELLING THE STORY OF HOW THE SECOND COMING IS GOING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE THIS IS THE CROWNING MOMENT OF ALL HUMAN HISTORY.

THIS IS WHEN JESUS CHRIST COMES TO THIS EARTH TO PUT DOWN THE THRONES OF MEN AND TO ESTABLISH THE LONG-PROMISED KINGDOM OF GOD.

SO, THE BOOK OF REVELATION TELLS SEVERAL TIMES ACCOUNTS OF HIS SECOND COMING FROM DIFFERENT ANGLES.

WE’RE GOING TO LOOK AT SOME OF THOSE ACCOUNTS RIGHT NOW BECAUSE IT’S SO INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT GOD WANTED YOU AND ME TO KNOW.

HE DEVOTED 22 CHAPTERS JUST TO, OVER AND OVER AGAIN, TELL US ABOUT THE MARVELOUS REVEALING OF JESUS CHRIST AT HIS SECOND COMING TO THIS EARTH.

ONE ACCOUNT WE WANT TO LOOK AT IT FOUND IN REVELATION CHAPTER 6.

THIS IS THE SIXTH SEAL ACCOUNT OF THE SECOND COMING.

IT SAYS IN VERSE 12, “AND I BEHELD WHEN HE HAD OPENED THE SIXTH SEAL, AND, LO, THERE WAS A GREAT EARTHQUAKE; AND THE SUN BECAME BLACK AS SACKCLOTH OF HAIR, AND THE MOON BECAME AS BLOOD; AND THE STARS OF HEAVEN FELL UNTO THE EARTH, EVEN AS A FIG TREE CASTETH HER UNTIMELY FIGS, WHEN SHE IS SHAKEN OF A MIGHTY WIND.”

NOW, THERE ARE SEVEN SEALS.

WE ARE LOOKING AT THE SIXTH SEAL HERE RIGHT NOW AND IT’S GIVING THE ACCOUNT OF WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN HE COMES.

GREAT EARTHQUAKE, SUN BECAME BLACK.

REMEMBER THIS BECAUSE WE’RE GOING TO READ IT AGAIN IN OTHER ACCOUNTS.

MOON BECAME AS BLOOD, STARS OF HEAVEN FELL.

HE GOES ON TO SAY IN THIS PASSAGE, “AND THE HEAVEN DEPARTED AS A SCROLL WHEN IT IS ROLLED TOGETHER; AND EVERY MOUNTAIN AND ISLAND WERE MOVED OUT OF THEIR PLACES.”

WE’RE TALKING ABOUT THIS DRAMATIC, INCREDIBLE EVENT OF THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST.

IT CONTINUES ON TO TELL US THAT, “THE KINGS OF THE EARTH, AND THE GREAT MEN, AND THE RICH MEN, AND THE CHIEF CAPTAINS, AND THE MIGHTY MEN, AND EVERY BONDMAN, AND EVERY FREE MAN, WILL HIDE THEMSELVES IN THE DENS AND IN THE ROCKS OF THE MOUNTAINS; AND SAID TO THE MOUNTAINS AND ROCKS, FALL ON US, AND HIDE US FROM THE FACE OF HIM THAT SITTETH ON THE THRONE, AND FROM THE WRATH OF THE LAMB.”

NOW, THIS IS GOING TO BE A WONDERFUL TIME WHEN HIS PEOPLE ARE CAUGHT UP TO MEET HIM IN THE AIR, BUT IT’S ALSO GOING TO BE A TIME WHEN PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN REBELLION AND DID NOT GIVE THEIR LIVES TO JESUS CHRIST AND DID NOT BELIEVE THE GOSPEL, THE BIBLE TEACHES IT WILL BE A TIME OF THE WRATH OF THE LAMB, JESUS CHRIST IS THE LAMB, AGAINST THE DISOBEDIENT.

SOMETIMES WE EMPHASIZE THE MERCY AND THE LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST SO MUCH THAT WE FORGET TO PREACH THIS PART OF THE BIBLE THAT FOR THOSE WHO REJECT HIM, ULTIMATELY WILL RECEIVE OF THE WRATH OF GOD, WHICH WE DON’T WANT ANYONE TO DO.

IT GOES ON TO SAY IN VERSE 17, “FOR THE GREAT DAY OF HIS WRATH IS COME; AND WHO SHALL BE ABLE TO STAND?”

IMAGINE IT, PEOPLE RUNNING TO ROCKS, RUNNING TO MOUNTAINS SAYING, “FALL ON US, HIDE US FROM THE FACE OF HIM THAT SITTETH ON THE THRONE, FOR THE GREAT DAY OF HIS WRATH HAS COME.”

THERE’S ANOTHER ACCOUNT IN REVELATION 11:15, AND THIS IS UNDER THE SEVEN TRUMPETS.

THERE ARE SEVEN SEALS, THERE ARE SEVEN TRUMPETS.

THIS IS THE SEVENTH TRUMPET ACCOUNT OF THE SECOND COMING.

VERSE NUMBER 15, “AND THE SEVENTH ANGEL SOUNDED; AND THERE WERE GREAT VOICES IN HEAVEN, SAYING, THE KINGDOMS OF THIS WORLD ARE BECOME THE KINGDOMS OF OUR LORD, AND OF HIS CHRIST; AND HE SHALL REIGN FOREVER AND EVER.”

SO, THIS IS A MARVELOUS THING.

THIS IS THE TRANSITION FROM HUMAN GOVERNMENT, THE KINGDOMS OF THIS WORLD, TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD, THE PROMISED KINGDOM OF GOD.

THE KINGDOMS OF THIS WORLD WILL BECOME THE KINGDOMS OF OUR LORD AND HIS CHRIST AND HE’S GOING TO REIGN FROM THAT POINT IN TIME FOREVER AND EVER.

HE GOES ON TO TELL US IN VERSE 16, “AND THE FOUR AND TWENTY ELDERS, WHICH SAT BEFORE GOD ON THEIR SEATS, FELL UPON THEIR FACES, AND WORSHIPPED GOD, SAYING, WE GIVE THEE THANKS, O LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, WHICH ART, AND WAST, AND ART TO COME; BECAUSE THOU HAST TAKEN TO THEE THY GREAT POWER, AND HAST REIGNED.”

THIS IS GOING TO BE AN INCREDIBLE EVENT.

IT’S THE TRANSITION OF THE KINGDOM OF MEN, WHICH HAS BEEN RULING THE WORLD SINCE THE BEGINNING OF HUMANITY, INTO THE PROMISED KINGDOM OF GOD.

THIS EVENT IS ALSO REFERRED IN DANIEL CHAPTER 7, VERSE NUMBER 9.

DANIEL SAID, “I BEHELD TILL THE THRONES WERE CAST DOWN, AND THE ANCIENT OF DAYS DID SIT.”

SO, HE SAW THE CASTING DOWN OF THE THRONES OF HUMAN GOVERNMENT AND THE ANCIENT OF DAYS DID SIT.

THIS WILL ACTUALLY BE THE REALIZATION OF THE PRAYER THAT MANY OF US HAVE PRAYED, “THY KINGDOM COME, THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH.”

WELL, YOU’RE RIGHT NOW READING THE PROPHECIES ABOUT THIS SOON-COMING EVENT WHERE THAT PRAYER WILL ACTUALLY BE REALIZED.

THEN FINALLY IN VERSE 18 OF CHAPTER 11, IT SAID, “THE NATIONS WERE ANGRY, AND THY WRATH IS COME, AND THE TIME OF THE DEAD, THAT THEY SHOULD BE JUDGED, AND THAT THOU SHOULDEST GIVE REWARD UNTO THY SERVANTS THE PROPHETS, AND TO THE SAINTS, AND THEM THAT FEAR THY NAME, SMALL AND GREAT; AND SHOULDEST DESTROY THEM WHICH DESTROY THE EARTH.”

SO, WHAT HAPPENS?

THE NATIONS WERE ANGRY THAT CAUSES THEM TO INVADE ISRAEL AT ARMAGEDDON.

THIS TAKES PLACE AT THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON.

THE NATIONS WERE ANGRY AND THEY TRIED TO INVADE ISRAEL TO DESTROY HER.

THAT MAKES GOD ANGRY BECAUSE OF THEIR REBELLION.

BUT NOT ONLY IS IT A TIME OF WRATH, BUT ALSO NOTICE HERE IT SAYS, “AND THIS IS THE TIME THAT THE PROPHETS AND THE SAINTS ARE GIVEN THEIR REWARDS.

THOU SHALT GIVE REWARDS UNTO THY SERVANTS, THE PROPHETS.

THEN IT GOES ON TO SAY IN VERSE 19, “THE TEMPLE OF GOD WAS OPENED IN HEAVEN,” WE’LL SEE THIS SEVERAL TIMES, “AND THERE WAS SEEN IN HIS TEMPLE THE ARK OF HIS TESTAMENT: AND THERE WERE LIGHTNINGS AND THUNDERINGS, AND AN EARTHQUAKE, AND GREAT HAIL.”

REMEMBER THAT FROM BACK IN THE SIXTH SEAL?

THE SAME THING, LIGHTNINGS, VOICES, THUNDERINGS,

EARTHQUAKE, GREAT HAIL.

OKAY, WE’RE STUDYING ABOUT THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST.

IN OUR NEXT SEGMENT WE’LL CONTINUE TO STUDY THE DIFFERENT ACCOUNTS IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION ABOUT THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS.

AS WE CONTINUE THROUGH THIS STUDY ABOUT THE SECOND COMING, I’D LIKE TO ASK YOU TO THINK ABOUT YOUR POSITION WITH JESUS CHRIST RIGHT NOW.

LET’S SAY YOU’RE ONE OF THOSE OUT IN THE FIELD WITH A FRIEND AND THE SECOND COMING HAPPENS AND YOUR FRIEND GOES AND YOU’RE LEFT BEHIND.

YOU DON’T WANT TO BE THERE.

AND SO, ONE OF THE REASONS WE’RE DOING THIS LESSON TODAY IS WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT NO ONE VIEWING THIS PROGRAM OR WATCHING THIS DVD MISSES THE RAPTURE.

WE DON’T WANT YOU, IF YOU’RE A WOMAN WORKING WITH A FRIEND OF YOURS, FOR YOU TO BE LEFT.

AND WE ALSO DON’T WANT THEM TO BE LEFT.

THAT’S WHAT THIS WHOLE COURSE IS DEVOTED TO.

THAT’S WHAT THIS MESSAGE TODAY IS DEVOTED TO BECAUSE ALL THE PROPHECIES POINT TO THE SOON SECOND COMING OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.

IT’S NOT A MATTER OF WILL IT HAPPEN, IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

THE ONLY QUESTION IS WILL YOU AND I BE READY?

JESUS SAID IN MATTHEW 24, HE SAID, “BE YE ALSO READY: FOR IN SUCH AN HOUR AS YOU THINK NOT, YOUR LORD DOTH COME.”

WE WANT YOU TO BE READY, I WANT TO BE READY.

PART 2

IN OUR LAST SEGMENT OF UNDERSTANDING THE ENDTIME SERIES WE LEARNED ABOUT THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS TO EARTH.

WE ALSO LEARNED THE BOOK OF REVELATION IS REALLY THE BOOK OF THE REVEALING OF JESUS CHRIST.

IN THIS SEGMENT WE’RE GOING TO CONTINUE THROUGH THE DIFFERENT ACCOUNTS OF THE SECOND COMING IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION.

WHAT WE WANT TO DO FIRST NOW IS TO GO TO THE TWO HARVESTS.

THERE IS AN ACCOUNT OF THE TWO HARVESTS IN REVELATION, BUT LET’S LOOK AT THE ACCOUNT OF IT IN MATTHEW FIRST.

IT WILL HELP US TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE’RE SEEING WHEN WE GET TO REVELATION.

IT’S MATTHEW 13:37-43.

JESUS GAVE A PARABLE OF THE WHEAT AND THE TARES.

HE SAID THERE WAS THIS CERTAIN MAN WHO OWNED A FIELD.

HE AND HIS SERVANTS SOWED SEED IN THE FIELD.

WHEN THE SEED CAME UP THEY NOTICED THAT THERE WERE TARES MINGLED WITH THE SEED.

THE SERVANTS CAME TO THE MASTER AND SAID, “WHAT HAPPENED HERE, DID NOT WE GET GOOD SEED, DID YOU BUY THIS SEED FROM A REPUTABLE PLACE?

WHY DO WE HAVE TARES?”

AND IMMEDIATELY THE OWNER SAID, “THE ENEMY HATH DONE THIS.

SOMEONE WHO IS MY ENEMY CAME OUT IN MY FIELD TO RUIN MY HARVEST AND SOWED TARES AMONG THE WHEAT.”

WELL, IN VERSE 37 JESUS BEGINS TO EXPLAIN THE PARABLE.

“HE ANSWERED AND SAID UNTO THEM,” WHEN THEY HAD ASKED JESUS WHAT DOES ALL OF THIS MEAN?

“HE THAT SOWETH THE GOOD SEED IS THE SON OF MAN.”

VERSE 38, “THE FIELD IS THE WORLD, THE GOOD SEED ARE THE CHILDREN OF THE KINGDOM; BUT THE TARES ARE THE CHILDREN OF THE WICKED ONE.

THE ENEMY THAT SOWED THEM IS THE DEVIL; THE HARVEST IS THE END OF THE AGE; AND THE REAPERS ARE THE ANGELS.”

NOW, LET’S REMEMBER THIS.

THE SOWER THAT SOWS THE SEED, WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD, IS JESUS, THE SON OF MAN.

THE FIELD IS THE WORLD, THAT’S WHERE HE’S SOWING HIS WORD.

THE GOOD SEED THAT COMES UP AS WHEAT ARE THOSE WHO WILL BE SAVED.

THE TARES ARE THOSE WHO REJECT THE GOSPEL AND WILL BE LOST.

THEY ARE THE CHILDREN OF THE WICKED ONE.

THE ENEMY THAT SOWED THE TARES IS THE DEVIL AND THE HARVEST IS THE END OF THIS AGE AT THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST.

AND THE REAPERS, ACCORDING TO JESUS, ARE THE ANGELS.

NOW, LET’S SEE WHAT HAPPENS TO THE WHEAT AND THE TARES.

VERSE 40.

“AS THEREFORE THE TARES ARE GATHERED AND BURNED IN THE FIRE; SO SHALL IT BE IN THE END OF THIS AGE.”

NOW, THE MASTER HAD BEEN ASKED, SHALL WE GO OUT THERE AND SHALL WE PLUCK UP THE TARES OUT OF THE WHEAT?

HE SAID, “NO, NO, YOU’LL UPROOT THE WHEAT WHILE YOU’RE AT IT.

JUST WAIT UNTIL THE HARVEST.

WE’LL GATHER THE WHEAT, PUT IT IN THE BARN, AND WE’LL GATHER THE TARES AND WE’LL BURN IT.”

SO, JESUS SAID, “LIKEWISE THE TARES WILL BE GATHERED TOGETHER.

THE WICKED ONES WILL BE PUT INTO JUDGMENT AT THE END OF THIS AGE.

THE SON OF MAN SHALL SEND FORTH HIS ANGELS, AND THEY SHALL GATHER OUT OF HIS KINGDOM ALL THINGS THAT OFFEND, AND THEM WHICH DO INIQUITY.

AND SHALL CAST THEM INTO A FURNACE OF FIRE; THERE SHALL BE WAILING AND GNASHING OF TEETH.”

NOW, THAT’S THE END OF PEOPLE WHO REJECT THE GOSPEL.

ON THE OTHER HAND, HOWEVER, IN VERSE 43 IT TELLS US, “THEN SHALL THE RIGHTEOUS SHINE FORTH AS THE SUN IN THE KINGDOM OF THEIR FATHER.”

SO, WHEN JESUS COMES BACK WE WHO HAVE BELIEVED THE GOSPEL, AND HE HAS MADE US RIGHTEOUS, WE’RE GOING TO SHINE FORTH AND BE A PARTICIPANT IN THE KINGDOM OF OUR FATHER.

THEN JESUS SAID TO HIS DISCIPLES, “WHO HATH EARS TO HEAR, LET HIM HEAR.”

NOW, THE OTHER ACCOUNT OF THE TWO HARVESTS IS SO INTERESTING, IT’S FOUND IN REVELATION CHAPTER 14 VERSES 14-20.

IT STATES THERE, “AND I LOOKED, AND BEHOLD A WHITE CLOUD, AND UPON THE CLOUD ONE SAT LIKE UNTO THE SON OF MAN,” WE KNOW THE SON OF MAN IS JESUS, “HAVING ON HIS HEAD A GOLDEN CROWN, AND IN HIS HAND A SHARP SICKLE.

AND ANOTHER ANGEL CAME OUT OF THE TEMPLE, CRYING WITH A LOUD VOICE TO HIM THAT SAT ON THE CLOUD, THRUST IN THY SICKLE, AND REAP: FOR THE TIME IS COME FOR THEE TO REAP; FOR THE HARVEST OF THE EARTH IS RIPE.

AND HE THAT SAT ON THE CLOUD THRUST IN HIS SICKLE ON THE EARTH; AND THE EARTH WAS REAPED.”

NOW, THE HARVEST OF THE EARTH IS THE WHEAT.

WE’RE DEALING WITH TWO HARVESTS HERE, YOU’RE GOING TO SEE ANOTHER ONE IN JUST A MOMENT.

SO, THE HARVEST OF THE EARTH IS THE WHEAT.

THIS IS THE RAPTURE WHEN THE SAINTS ARE CAUGHT UP TO MEET THE LORD IN THE AIR.

NOW, LET’S LOOK AT THE OTHER HARVEST IN THE NEXT VERSE, VERSE NUMBER 17.

“AND ANOTHER ANGEL CAME OUT OF THE TEMPLE WHICH IS IN HEAVEN, HE ALSO HAVING A SHARP SICKLE.

AND ANOTHER ANGEL CAME OUT FROM THE ALTAR, WHICH HAD POWER OVER FIRE; AND CRIED WITH A LOUD CRY TO HIM THAT HAD THE SHARP SICKLE, SAYING, THRUST IN THY SHARP SICKLE, AND GATHER THE CLUSTERS OF THE VINE OF THE EARTH; FOR HER GRAPES ARE FULLY RIPE.”

THIS IS THE OTHER HARVEST WE’RE SPEAKING OF.

AND THE VINE OF THE EARTH REFERS TO THE TARES IN THE TWO HARVEST PROPHECY BACK IN MATTHEW CHAPTER 13.

IT GOES ON TO TELL US IN VERSE 19, “AND THE ANGEL THRUST IN HIS SICKLE INTO THE EARTH, AND GATHERED THE VINE OF THE EARTH, AND CAST IT INTO THE GREAT WINEPRESS OF THE WRATH OF GOD.”

REMEMBER THAT PHRASE, “THE WINEPRESS OF THE WRATH OF GOD.”

“AND THE WINEPRESS WAS TRODDEN WITHOUT THE CITY, AND BLOOD CAME OUT OF THE WINEPRESS, EVEN TO THE HORSE BRIDLES, BY THE SPACE OF A THOUSAND AND SIX HUNDRED FURLONGS.”

SO, THE RAPTURE WILL TAKE PLACE.

AT THE SAME TIME THE PEOPLE OF THE EARTH, THE ARMIES OF THE EARTH, ARE BEING USHERED INTO THE WINEPRESS, SPEAKING OF THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON.

AND THIS IS WHERE THE WRATH OF GOD — THE BIBLE REFERS TO THE WINEPRESS OF THE WRATH OF GOD.

IT WILL BE TRODDEN WITHOUT THE CITY.

JUST OUTSIDE THE CITY OF JERUSALEM IS A VALLEY CALLED THE KIDRON VALLEY.

IT’S ALSO KNOWN AS THE VALLEY OF SLAUGHTER.

AND THAT’S WHERE THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON WILL CULMINATE.

IT WILL BEGIN IN THE PLAIN OF MEGIDDO IN THE NORTHERN PART OF ISRAEL AND THEN THE ISRAELI ARMY WILL BE DRIVEN BACK, BEFORE THE WORLD GOVERNMENT ARMIES, BACK DOWN THE JORDAN VALLEY AND THEN IN FOR THEIR LAST STAND AT THE CITY OF JERUSALEM.

IT’S ABOUT 160 MILES.

NOTICE IN THE PASSAGE, IT SAYS, “THE BLOOD WILL FLOW BY THE SPACE OF A THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED FURLONGS.”

1,600 FURLONGS IS 160 MILES.

IF YOU MEASURE FROM MEGIDDO IN THE NORTH OVER TO THE JORDAN VALLEY, THEN DOWN INTO THE JORDAN VALLEY AND THEN INTO JERUSALEM THAT’S RIGHT AT 160 MILES.

THIS IS THE PROPHECY OF THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON, HOW JESUS CHRIST WILL COME BACK TO THIS EARTH AT THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON.

LET’S CONTINUE ON BECAUSE IT TELLS US MORE IN VERSE 6, “AND I HEARD AS IT WERE THE VOICE OF A GREAT MULTITUDE.”

NOW, WE’RE SWITCHING TO REVELATION 19.

WE’VE SEEN THE TWO HARVESTS.

WE’VE SEEN THE HARVEST OF THE WHEAT AND THE TARES IN MATTHEW CHAPTER 13 AND REVELATION 14.

WE’VE SEEN ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF THE TWO HARVESTS.

NOW, WE’RE GOING TO THE MOST DRAMATIC ACCOUNT THAT WE HAVE OF THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST IN REVELATION 19:6-20.

VERSE 6.

“AND I HEARD AS IT WERE THE VOICE OF A GREAT MULTITUDE, AND AS THE VOICE OF MANY WATERS, AND AS THE VOICE OF MIGHTY THUNDERINGS,” HERE WE GET ALL THESE THINGS AGAIN, “MANY VOICES, SOUND OF MANY WATERS, MANY THUNDERINGS, YOU SEE IT EVERY TIME WHEN YOU SEE AN ACCOUNT OF THE SECOND COMING.

AND THESE VOICES WERE SAYING, ’ALLELUIA: FOR THE LORD GOD OMNIPOTENT REIGNETH.

LET US BE GLAD AND REJOICE, AND GIVE HONOUR TO HIM: FOR THE MARRIAGE OF THE LAMB IS COME, AND HIS WIFE HATH MADE HERSELF READY.’”

YOU KNOW THAT THE CHURCH IS REFERRED TO IN SCRIPTURE AS THE BRIDE OF JESUS CHRIST.

AND THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT WHEN JESUS CHRIST COMES BACK WE’RE GOING TO BE CAUGHT UP TO MEET HIM IN THE AIR AND OUR MARRIAGE WILL BE CONSUMMATED, WE WILL BE JOINED, AND WE WILL FOREVER BE WITH THE LORD.

AND EVEN AS HE’S COMING TO ESTABLISH HIS KINGDOM TO RULE AS KING OF KINGS, THE BRIDE, HIS WIFE, WILL RULE WITH HIM AS QUEEN OF QUEENS.

THE BIBLE SAYS THAT WE WILL RULE AND REIGN WITH HIM AS KINGS AND PRIESTS ON EARTH.

THAT’S REVELATION 5 VERSE NUMBER 10.

SO, THIS WHOLE SCENARIO IS BEING PAINTED HERE.

THIS EXCITING TIME.

IT’S TIME FOR THE MARRIAGE OF THE LAMB AND HIS WIFE HATH MADE HERSELF READY.

NOW, REMEMBER THERE’S THE VOICE OF A GREAT MULTITUDE, THERE’S THUNDERINGS AND THE LAMB’S WIFE HAS MADE HERSELF READY.

CONTINUING ON HERE IN VERSE NUMBER 8.

“AND TO HER,” TO THE BRIDE, THE CHURCH, “WAS GRANTED THAT SHE SHOULD BE ARRAYED IN FINE LINEN, CLEAN AND WHITE: FOR THE FINE LINEN IS THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF SAINTS.”

THIS IS THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF JESUS THAT HE IMPUTES TO US.

HE CLEANSES US WITH HIS BLOOD.

HE FORGIVES US OF ALL TRANSGRESSIONS AND NOW THEN WE ARE READY TO BE HIS BRIDE.

“AND HE SAITH UNTO ME, WRITE, BLESSED ARE THEY WHICH ARE CALLED UNTO THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB.”

SO, WE’RE BEING CALLED, BUT WILL BE CHOSEN TO BE A PART OF THAT.

RIGHT NOW THE MESSAGE IS GOING OUT.

JESUS CHRIST, IT’S NOT HIS WILL THAT ANY SHOULD PERISH, BUT ALL SHOULD COME TO REPENTANCE.

BUT THE QUESTION IS WILL I RESPOND TO THAT CALL AND WILL I DO WHAT IS NECESSARY FOR ME TO BE A PART OF THE BRIDE OF JESUS CHRIST?

NOW, VERSE NUMBER 11 CONTINUES ON TO SAY, AND JOHN IS RECORDING THIS.

HE SAID, “I SAW HEAVEN OPENED.”

WE’VE HEARD THAT ONE BEFORE TOO, HAVEN’T WE, IN PREVIOUS ACCOUNTS OF THE SECOND COMING.

“I SAW HEAVEN OPENED AND BEHOLD A WHITE HORSE.

AND HE THAT SAT UPON HIM WAS CALLED FAITHFUL AND TRUE.”

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, CAN YOU IMAGINE HOW DRAMATIC THIS IS GOING TO BE?

I MEAN, THE HEAVENS ARE GOING TO OPEN AND THERE HE IS, RESPLENDENT, UPON A WHITE HORSE; “AND HE IS CALLED FAITHFUL AND TRUE,” SPEAKING OF JESUS CHRIST, “AND IN RIGHTEOUSNESS HE DOTH JUDGE AND MAKE WAR.”

HE’S COMING TO JUDGE INIQUITY AND TO MAKE WAR AGAINST THOSE THAT HAVE LIVED IN REBELLION THAT HAVE REJECTED HIS LORDSHIP AS THE CREATOR OF ALL THINGS.

“HIS EYES WERE AS A FLAME OF FIRE, AND ON HIS HEAD WERE MANY CROWNS; AND HE HAD A NAME WRITTEN, THAT NO MAN KNEW, BUT HE HIMSELF.”

SO, WHAT IS THIS TELLING US?

THAT JESUS IS FAITHFUL AND TRUE.

HE’S COMING TO JUDGE AND MAKE WAR AGAINST THE UNGODLY AT ARMAGEDDON.

THAT’S WHAT THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON IS ALL ABOUT.

I’M GOING TO THROW YOU INTO THE WINEPRESS OF THE WRATH OF GOD.

AT THE SAME TIME HE HAS MANY CROWNS ON HIS HEAD.

ANOTHER PLACE IT SAYS WE WILL THROW OUR CROWNS AT HIS FEET.

MAYBE THAT MEANS THAT ALL THESE CROWNS HE HAD ARE THOSE HE HAD, BUT WE FELT LIKE WE WERE NOT DESERVING, THAT HE’S THE ONE THAT WAS DESERVING OF EVERYTHING.

HE HAS MANY CROWNS ON HIS HEAD.

THEN, HE CONTINUES ON IN VERSE 13, “AND HE WAS CLOTHED WITH A VESTURE DIPPED IN BLOOD: AND HIS NAME IS CALLED THE WORD OF GOD.”

WHY IS HIS NAME CALLED THE WORD OF GOD?

BECAUSE BACK IN JOHN CHAPTER 1 VERSE NUMBER 1 IT SAYS, “IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD, AND THE WORD WAS WITH GOD, AND THE WORD WAS GOD.”

THEN IT GOES ON TO SAY IN VERSE 14, “AND THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH, AND DWELT AMONG US, (AND WE BEHELD HIS GLORY, THE GLORY AS OF THE ONLY BEGOTTEN OF THE FATHER,) FULL OF GRACE AND TRUTH.”

SO, WHEN WE SEE THIS, HIS NAME WAS THE WORD OF GOD, THIS IS GOD MANIFEST IN THE FLESH.

THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH, DWELT AMONG US.

OKAY, SO WHEN JESUS COMES BACK, RIGHTLY HE’S GOING TO BE CALLED THE WORD OF GOD.

AND VERSE 14 TELLS US, “AND THE ARMIES WHICH WERE IN HEAVEN FOLLOWED HIM UPON WHITE HORSES, CLOTHED IN FINE LINEN, WHITE AND CLEAN.”

WHO IS THAT SPEAKING OF?

THAT’S REFERRING TO US, THE CHURCH, WHO HAVE BEEN CAUGHT UP TO MEET HIM IN THE AIR.

NOW THEN, WE COME WITH HIM DOWN TO THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON.

AND THE BIBLE SAYS WE WILL COME WITH HIM TO THE MOUNT OF OLIVES AND THERE WE WILL BE WITH HIM AS HE DEFEATS THE ARMIES OF THE ANTICHRIST AND WE CROWN HIM KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

VERSE 15 CONTINUES ON TO TELL US MORE ABOUT THIS DRAMATIC SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST.

“AND OUT OF HIS MOUTH GOETH A SHARP SWORD, THAT WITH IT HE SHOULD SMITE THE NATIONS.”

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IF WE’RE NOT CAREFUL, WE WILL TRY TO CHANGE SCRIPTURE.

GOD IS ANGRY WITH THE NATIONS.

GOD IS ANGRY WITH THE EVIL THAT PEOPLE HAVE GIVEN THEMSELVES TO.

WE’VE TAKEN THE BIBLE AND SAID, WELL, I KNOW THE BIBLE SAYS THIS, BUT I DON’T BELIEVE THAT.

WE’VE VIOLATED SCRIPTURE, WHETHER YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT ABORTION OR ALL THE IMMORALITY, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT.

THE BIBLE SAYS THAT WHEN JESUS COMES, HE WILL SMITE THE NATIONS.

BUT IF YOU’RE CAUGHT UP TO MEET HIM IN THE RAPTURE, THAT WILL NOT AFFECT YOU BECAUSE NOW YOU HAVE YOUR IMMORTAL BODY AND YOU’RE ON THE LORD’S SIDE.

“AND HE SHALL RULE THEM WITH A ROD OF IRON.”

DURING THE KINGDOM OF GOD HE WILL TOLERATE NO DISSENT BECAUSE ALL OF MAN’S WAY HAS BROUGHT WAR, HEARTACHE, DISEASE, ALL THE ILLS OF MANKIND.

IT’S BEEN BROUGHT BECAUSE MANKIND’S DONE IT HIS WAY, NOW JESUS IS GOING TO TEACH THE WORLD HOW TO LIVE IN PEACE.

THE BIBLE SAYS, “HE TREADETH THE WINEPRESS OF THE FIERCENESS AND WRATH OF ALMIGHTY GOD.”

NOTICE IT REFERS TO THE WINEPRESS AGAIN.

WE’RE IN CHAPTER 19 NOW.

THE WINEPRESS IS REFERRED TO AT THE SECOND HARVEST IN CHAPTER NUMBER 14.

IT’S THE SAME EVENT.

SAME EVENT IN CHAPTER 6, CHAPTER 11, CHAPTER 14, HERE WE ARE IN CHAPTER 19.

“AND HE,” JESUS CHRIST, “HATH ON HIS VESTURE AND ON HIS THIGH A NAME WRITTEN, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS,” BECAUSE THAT’S WHAT HE IS.

HE WILL RULE THE NATIONS WITH A ROD OF IRON.

NOW IT CONTINUES ON IN VERSE NUMBER 17 TO TELL US MORE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS AT HIS COMING.

“AND I SAW AN ANGEL STANDING IN THE SUN;” ALL OF THIS IS SO DRAMATIC BECAUSE IT’S A DRAMATIC EVENT.

IT’S THE MOST DRAMATIC EVENT SINCE THE WORLDS HAD BEGUN.

“AND HE CRIED WITH A LOUD VOICE, SAYING TO ALL THE FOWLS THAT FLY IN THE MIDST OF HEAVEN, COME AND GATHER YOURSELVES TOGETHER UNTO THE SUPPER OF THE GREAT GOD,” SPEAKING TO THE BIRDS NOW.

“THAT YE MAY EAT THE FLESH OF KINGS, AND THE FLESH OF CAPTAINS, AND THE FLESH OF MIGHTY MEN, AND THE FLESH OF HORSES, AND OF THEM THAT SIT ON THEM, AND THE FLESH OF ALL MEN, BOTH FREE AND BOND, BOTH SMALL AND GREAT.”

NOW, LOOK THROUGH THE EYES OF GOD HERE.

THIS GIVES US A GLIMPSE OF HOW GOD THINKS ABOUT WHAT’S GOING ON IN OUR WORLD RIGHT NOW.

WE’RE HAVING WARS AND RUMORS OF WARS, MEN KILLING OTHER MEN, WOMEN KILLING OTHER WOMEN.

IT’S HORRIFIC WHAT’S GOING ON IN OUR WORLD RIGHT NOW.

WELL, THE ULTIMATE TRAVESTY IS GOING TO BE WHEN THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD UNDER THE U.N. BANNER ARE GOING TO COME AGAINST ISRAEL TO TRY TO BRING ISRAEL UNDER SUBJUGATION TO THE WORLD GOVERNMENTAL SYSTEM.

THIS IS GOING TO MAKE GOD SO ANGRY HE’S GOING SAY, “ALL YOU BIRDS OF THE FIELD, OF THE AIR, COME, GATHER, I’M GETTING READY TO FEED YOU A WONDERFUL SMORGASBORD.”

IT’S KIND OF GORY TO THINK ABOUT IT THAT WAY, BUT IT’S WHAT IS GOING ON HERE.

GOD IS SO ANGRY WITH THE NATIONS HE SAID, “YOU’RE GOING TO EAT THE FLESH OF KINGS, OF CAPTAINS, OF MIGHTY MEN, OF ALL MEN, BOTH FREE AND BOND, BOTH SMALL AND GREAT.”

THEN IN VERSE NUMBER 19, JOHN SAID, “AND I SAW THE BEAST,” WHAT’S THAT REFERRING TO?

THE BEAST IN THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION REFERS TO THE ANTICHRIST, THE ONE-WORLD LEADER.

HE’LL BE THE MOST PROMINENT POLITICIAN OF HIS TIME.

BY THEN HE WILL BE RULING OVER THE WORLD GOVERNMENT THAT’S BEING SET UP RIGHT NOW THROUGH THE PROCESS OF GLOBALIZATION.

“AND I SAW THE BEAST, AND THE KINGS OF THE EARTH,” WHO SUPPORT THE BEAST, “AND THEIR ARMIES, GATHERED TOGETHER TO MAKE WAR AGAINST HIM THAT SAT ON THE HORSE,” AGAINST JESUS CHRIST, “AND AGAINST HIS ARMY,” THE IMMORTAL CHURCH.

VERSE 20.

“AND THE BEAST WAS TAKEN, AND WITH HIM THE FALSE PROPHET,” HIS RELIGIOUS PARTNER, “THAT WROUGHT MIRACLES BEFORE HIM, WITH WHICH HE DECEIVED THEM THAT HAD RECEIVED THE MARK OF THE BEAST, AND THEM THAT WORSHIPPED HIS IMAGE.

THESE BOTH,” THE ANTICHRIST AND THE FALSE PROPHET, “WERE CAST ALIVE INTO A LAKE OF FIRE BURNING WITH BRIMSTONE.”

SO, WHEN JESUS COMES BACK TO THIS EARTH, HE’S GOING TO TAKE THE TWO PRINCIPLE LEADERS OF THE ONE-WORLD SYSTEM, WHICH WILL BE IN POWER AT THAT TIME, THE ANTICHRIST AND THE FALSE PROPHET, AND HE’S GOING TO CAST THEM INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE.

NOW, IT DOESN’T STOP THERE.

WE’RE SHIFTING CHAPTERS, FROM CHAPTER 19 TO CHAPTER 20.

BUT REALLY THERE WERE NO CHAPTERS OR VERSES IN THE ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPTS AND NOTICE THAT IT JUST CONTINUES ON HERE.

IN VERSE 1 OF CHAPTER 20 JOHN SAYS, “AND I SAW AN ANGEL COME DOWN FROM HEAVEN, HAVING THE KEY OF THE BOTTOMLESS PIT AND A GREAT CHAIN IN HIS HAND.

AND HE LAID HOLD ON THE DRAGON, THAT OLD SERPENT, WHICH IS THE DEVIL, AND SATAN, AND BOUND HIM A THOUSAND YEARS.”

SO, NOT ONLY WILL THE ANTICHRIST AND THE FALSE PROPHET BE PUT IN THE LAKE OF FIRE, BUT SATAN HIMSELF IS GOING TO BE BOUND FOR 1,000 YEARS.

“HE CAST HIM INTO THE BOTTOMLESS PIT, AND SHUT HIM UP, AND SET A SEAL UPON HIM, THAT HE SHOULD DECEIVE THE NATIONS NO MORE.”

THE REASON WE HAVE SO MANY PROBLEMS IN OUR WORLD TODAY IS BECAUSE THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD ARE DECEIVED, THE NATIONS ARE DECEIVED.

IT’S ASTOUNDING WHAT PEOPLE BELIEVE TODAY THAT’S ABSOLUTELY UNTRUE.

BUT THE WHOLE WORLD BELIEVES THAT.

AND IF YOU DON’T BELIEVE IT THEY ACT LIKE YOU’RE DECEIVED.

THE FACT IS THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD ARE LIVING UNDER DECEPTION RIGHT NOW.

BUT WHEN SATAN IS BOUND HE WON’T BE ALLOWED TO DECEIVE THEM NO MORE, “TIL THE THOUSAND YEARS SHOULD BE FULFILLED: AND AFTER THAT HE MUST BE LOOSED A LITTLE SEASON.”

SO, HE’S GOING TO BE BOUND FOR 1,000 YEARS SO THAT HE WILL NOT DECEIVE THE NATIONS.

THEN IN VERSE 4 OF CHAPTER 20 IT SAYS, “AND I SAW THRONES, AND THEY SAT UPON THEM, AND JUDGMENT WAS GIVEN UNTO THEM, AND I SAW THE SOULS OF THEM THAT WERE BEHEADED FOR THE WITNESS OF JESUS, AND FOR THE WORD OF GOD, AND WHICH HAD NOT WORSHIPPED THE ANTICHRIST, NEITHER HIS IMAGE,” NOR THE WORLD GOVERNMENT, “NEITHER HAD RECEIVED HIS MARK UPON THEIR FOREHEADS,” HAD NOT BEEN A PARTAKER OF THE MARK OF THE BEAST, “OR IN THEIR HANDS; AND THEY LIVED AND REIGNED WITH CHRIST A THOUSAND YEARS.”

NOW, THIS IS REFERRING SPECIFICALLY HERE TO THOSE THAT WERE KILLED BECAUSE THEY RESISTED THE MARK OF THE BEAST, WHICH WILL BE USED IN THE NEAR FUTURE TO TRY TO FORCE CONFORMITY TO THE ONE-WORLD GOVERNMENTAL SYSTEM.

HE SAID, “I SAW THAT AND AFTER HIS COMING THEY LIVED BECAUSE THEY ROSE FROM THE DEAD AT THE SOUNDING OF THE LAST TRUMPET, AND THEY LIVED AND THEY REIGNED WITH CHRIST 1,000 YEARS.”

HE GOES ON TO SAY IN VERSE 5, “BUT THE REST OF THE DEAD,” SPEAKING OF THE EVIL DEAD, THEY DIDN’T RAISE AT THAT TIME, “THEY LIVED NOT AGAIN UNTIL THE THOUSAND YEARS WERE FINISHED.”

NOW THIS, THE RESURRECTION OF THE JUST, “IS THE FIRST RESURRECTION.

BLESSED AND HOLY IS HE THAT HATH PART IN THE FIRST RESURRECTION; ON SUCH THE SECOND DEATH HATH NO POWER,” THAT MEANS ONCE YOU HAVE YOUR IMMORTAL BODIES YOU DON’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT DEATH EVER AGAIN, “ON SUCH THE SECOND DEATH HATH NO POWER, BUT THEY SHALL BE PRIESTS OF GOD AND OF CHRIST, AND SHALL REIGN WITH HIM A THOUSAND YEARS.”

SO, THE UNRIGHTEOUS DEAD WILL REMAIN DEAD UNTIL AFTER THE 1,000 YEARS, UNTIL THE GREAT WHITE THRONE OF JUDGMENT.

NOW, THIS IS THE FIRST RESURRECTION.

AND THE BIBLE SAYS, “BLESSED AND HOLY IS HE THAT HATH PART IN THE FIRST RESURRECTION, BECAUSE ON SUCH THE SECOND DEATH WILL HAVE NO POWER.”

NOW, IT’S SO IMPORTANT THAT ALL OF US ARE PART OF THAT FIRST RESURRECTION.

IN OUR NEXT SEGMENT OF UNDERSTANDING THE ENDTIME WE WILL MAKE UP THE LAST LESSON OF OUR UNDERSTANDING THE ENDTIME SERIES.

THIS LAST LESSON WILL BE THE MOST IMPORTANT OF THE ENTIRE SERIES.

JESUS SAID THAT EXCEPT A PERSON IS BORN AGAIN, HE CANNOT ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

WE’VE BEEN STUDYING ABOUT THE KINGDOM OF GOD, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD, THE DECLARATION OF JESUS AS KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

BUT IN THESE NEXT TWO SEGMENTS WE’RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT WE’RE A PART OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD?

AS I MENTIONED, JESUS SAID IN JOHN CHAPTER 3, “EXCEPT A PERSON IS BORN AGAIN, HE CANNOT ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD.”

BUT THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO USE THE TERM “BORN AGAIN” THAT DON’T REALLY MEAN… THAT DON’T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS.

SO, IN THE NEXT SEGMENT, WE’RE GOING TO EXPLAIN WHAT IT MEANS TO BE BORN AGAIN.

AND WE’RE ALSO GOING TO LEARN ABOUT WHAT THE 1,000 YEAR REIGN OF JESUS CHRIST WILL BE LIKE ON THIS EARTH.

NOT ONE WAR FOR 1,000 YEARS, THE WOLF AND THE LAMB WILL LIE DOWN TOGETHER, THE CHILDREN WILL PLAY UPON THE HOLE OF THE ASP AND IT WILL NOT HURT HIM.

IT’S GOING TO BE PEACE ON EARTH, GOOD WILL TOWARD MEN.

IT’S GOING TO BE A WONDERFUL TIME.

AND WE’RE GOING TO LEARN WHAT THE PRINCIPLES ARE THAT WILL BE ENACTED, THAT WILL ENABLE US TO LIVE IN TOTAL PEACE FOR 1,000 YEARS.

SO, DON’T MISS THIS LAST TWO SEGMENTS BECAUSE IT’S SO IMPORTANT.

WE WILL LEARN WHAT THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS REALLY ALL ABOUT.

FOR YOUR OWN DVD OF THE “THE SECOND COMING,” CALL 1-800-ENDTIME OR GO TO ONE OF THE FOLLOWING: